“And the Spirit of the Lord began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.” Judges 13:25
Dear Ones:
When Jesus was baptized, the Spirit of God came upon Him, anointing Him for the task that was before Him. It was the beginning of His ministry. All that the Lord Jesus needed from the Father at that time, for that purpose, was provided BY THE SPIRIT. Does this mean that Jesus did not have the Spirit before His baptism? No, but it does mean that for the purpose God had for Him, God the Father gave the Spirit without measure, and yet, according as Jesus had need, for the accomplishment of His will.
When David was anointed with oil by Samuel, in essence to become the king of Israel, according to the direction of the Lord, Scripture tells us: “…and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward.” (1 Samuel 16:13) Does this mean that David did not already have the Spirit of God working in his life, to be the young man, son, and shepherd, that he needed to be? No, but it does mean that for the task before him, becoming the king of Israel, and being the effective king that God called him to be, there had to be a special anointing, enabling, …a special ministry by the Spirit which would enable him to be such. In both the lives of Christ and David, there was a special anointing of the Spirit, which would open the door for them to be, and to accomplish, the will of God, only by the power of God.
The third illustration of the specific ministry of the Spirit in a life has to do with Samson. Like Jesus and David, Samson was “set apart” for a specific reason, a special calling, one that only could be realized “by the power of God,” or the moving of the Spirit. Scripture tells us that as he grew into manhood, “…the Lord blessed him.” (Judges 13:24) We also read that “…the Spirit of the Lord began to MOVE him at times.” Samson’s role, or mission, was different from that of Christ and David, as he would be called upon to “…begin to deliver Israel out of the hands of the Philistines.” (13:5) Did Samson “have” the Spirit of God working in his life from a child? Yes, but there would come a time, when there would be a special, and specific, working by the Spirit, as the time had come for him to “begin” to fulfill his mission. God would “move him” at times, stir him up, convict and convince him of the direction he should take, and what he should do. It must be noted that this was a process, as like David, Samson had to “prove” the Spirit. David would fight alone a bear and a lion…by the Spirit. Samson also would kill a lion with his bare hands…by the Spirit. They would learn to “use” the Spirit, or rather to be used BY Him, for the realization of God’s purposes and plan.
What does this have to do with us? We are not Jesus, David, or Samson. However, we ARE recipients of the same Holy Spirit. Before the day of Pentecost, the disciples had the Spirit of God working with them, upon them. It would be at Pentecost that the ministry of the Spirit in and upon them, was magnified. He would dwell IN them. John tells us in his first letter: “…but the anointing that you have received of Him abides in you.” (1 Jn. 2:27) The ministry of the Spirit in the life of the believer is just as real as for the apostles. It is one of being empowered to BE and to DO that which is well pleasing to God, accomplishing His objectives for our lives. That which is essential is to SEE the reality of it, BELIEVE it, trusting God for the full realization of His ministry in and through us.
Dear Father, open our eyes to see how you have blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ, by the Spirit. Strengthen us to believe You for the full outworking of Your will and purpose. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad